David Featherstone, 45, of Wooburn Green, was found hanging in an outside extension of his home by his partner, Kirsty Higham, on July 25 this year.

She called 999 but sadly it was too late to help Mr Featherstone, with paramedics saying there were “no lifesaving opportunities”.

The court heard Mr Featherstone, a surveyor, had referred himself to Healthy Minds around two weeks before he took his own life, telling them at the time he was suffering with depression.

As part of his assessment, one of the questions he was asked was whether he had thoughts he would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting himself in some way, to which he scored himself a zero – or not likely at all.

He was also on antidepressants, one of which was Sertraline.

Ms Higham said in a police statement the last time she spoke to Mr Featherstone in person, they talked about dinner.

She said: “I asked him if he’d be back for dinner [after work] and he said, ‘maybe late’.”

Ms Higham then went to work, and later received a text from Mr Featherstone asking if she could eat food out, saying: “I just need to be by myself.”

She told him: “Sorry I can’t, could you go for a walk instead?” but received no response.

She said there was no sight of Mr Featherstone when she came home from work, adding that she and their daughters put away the shopping on the side.

Ms Higham said she then heard a noise and went out to the garden, and up the steps to the extension. She said she had a “bad feeling”. She opened the door to the extension and found Mr Featherstone. Sadly, he had died.

The court heard Mr Featherstone was due to attend a mood management course in August, with Buckinghamshire senior coroner Crispin Butler noting it was one of the indications Mr Featherstone was seeking help.

Mr Butler said Mr Featherstone had left a “detailed” letter for his loved ones, in which he said laid out his intent to do what he did.

He added: “What happened was sudden and tragic but he has written explaining entirely what his thought processes were.

“There is reason behind what he has done and complete motivation for what he has undertaken.

“It is very clear from the evidence that he undertook this act himself at a time no-one else could find him.

“The location of choice was to avoid discovery.

“It was not a spur of the moment act. It is very sad.”

He recorded a conclusion of suicide, with the medical cause of death recorded as hanging.

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